Ease Congestion – Ban Elderly Motorists, Says Poll

Ease Congestion – Ban Elderly Motorists, Says Poll

Congestion on Britain’s streets is getting worse, but drivers polled by online insurance broker www.motorinsurance.co.uk have a novel solution: ban elderly drivers from the roads.

Government figures suggest that almost nine in ten respondents felt that road congestion was a serious problem in the country . The solution, according to nearly half the drivers (49 per cent) polled, is a total ban on elderly drivers during peak periods.

In a display of blatant and unfounded ageism, nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of the 300 drivers polled truly believe that elderly drivers cannot cope with modern-day road conditions and nearly as many (49 per cent) believe that their slow and erratic driving causes accidents.

Paul Cosh, managing director of www.motorinsurance.co.uk, comments: “The impact of congestion on the UK economy in terms of lost time, fuel costs and general stress runs to billions, yet we continue to drive our cars more and drive further than the rest of Europe,” he says.

“However, I do not think that picking on this nation’s most careful and experienced drivers is really the answer. To be honest, the views shown by this poll are quite shocking and simply do not stand up against the facts.

“Firstly, if official transport figures are anything to go by, only 12 per cent of people aged 75 or over are frequent drivers at all. Then there is the pan-European research that shows conclusively that older drivers actually avoid rush-hour traffic .

“Of course increased age brings its challenges, but healthy older drivers typically try to compensate for deficiencies. If anything, they also drive more carefully and avoiding risk-taking in general.

“To suggest that older drivers are a danger on the roads is a statistically unfounded stereotype and if anyone wants to debate the safety record of an 80 year-old compared with the average 20 year-old, my door is always open.”
“If we really do want to tackle congestion sensibly, we should look at measures that ensure travellers enjoy free-flowing traffic, efficient public transport, as well as providing adequate space for walkers and cyclists. The wider aim is to make life, particularly in urban areas, less stressful, healthier and more enjoyable for everyone of all ages.”

David Sinclair, senior policy manager at Help the Aged, said: “These shocking findings highlight blatant discrimination towards older drivers. The evidence of competence in relation to age doesn’t back up the assertions made. Older drivers are not inevitably either bad or good drivers and it is ability and capability, not a person’s age that should be used to assess suitability to drive safely.”